The Scruffy Puppy Read Online Free Page B

Sid’s special extending lead, so he could run all across the park. Dad had warned Bella that the walks might not be so much fun in winter when it was cold and dark, but she couldn’t imagine not wanting to take Sid out. He loved walks so much and that made her happy.
    “Still not bored with getting up early?” Dad asked Bella on Thursday, as she let out a massive yawn on theway to the park.
    “No!” Bella shook her head firmly. “I’m just sleepy. I love the walks.”
    “How’s Megan getting on with her new dog?” Dad asked.
    Bella nibbled her bottom lip. She didn’t want to tell Dad that she’d hardly spoken to Megan since Monday. They had been best friends since they’d started school, and even though Megan annoyed her sometimes, Bella missed her. And she didn’t really feel like talking about it. “She’s fine.”
    “Ooooh, watch out, Bella. Another dog coming,” her dad said suddenly. “Want me to take the lead?”
    Bella shook her head. “No, I’m sure he’ll be good. Heel, Sid.” She pressed the button on the extending lead that madeit go short again and patted her leg, calling encouragingly to Sid. He pattered over to her at once, tail wagging. He’d seen the other dog and he wanted to sniff at him, but Bella was calling.
    “Oh, good boy!” Bella rubbed his ears and drew him over to the side of the path so that the lady with the dog – a huge Weimaraner – could get past. But instead, the lady stopped and smiled.

    “Have you just got your dog? I haven’t seen you out walking him before.”
    “Yes, we adopted him from Redlands, the shelter,” Dad explained.
    “He’s very sweet! And so well behaved. It’s lovely to see you training him to walk properly with you,” she added to Bella. “You’re obviously working really hard with him. Have a nice morning!”
    And she walked on, leaving Dad and Bella staring at each other proudly. Then they both started telling Sid how fabulous he was. “You little star, Sid! Did you hear what she said?”
    Sid stared up at them, wondering what all the fuss was about. All he’d done was stand still…

Chapter Five
    Bella had chatted to Sarah a few more times since the new girl had stuck up for her on Monday with Megan and the others. But to be honest, she wasn’t really looking forward to bringing her home for tea. Mum had been fine with it – she’d said it was good to have lots of different friends, and that it must have been hard for Sarah to start a newschool in the middle of the year.
    Bella knew that was all true, but it didn’t make Sarah any easier to talk to. She was quite shy, Bella decided. She seemed to spend most of her break and lunchtimes reading on one of the benches in the playground. Bella had stopped to talk to her whenever she’d gone past, but Sarah just wasn’t all that chatty.
    So the walk home from school was a bit awkward. Mum did her best, asking Sarah about why they’d moved (because her mum had got a new job) and whether she liked her new flat (yes, but she wished they had a garden). But it was hard to keep the conversation going, and Bella couldn’t help wishing that she was back being friends withMegan again, and that it was Megan who was coming home to tea instead.
    As they walked into the front garden, the sound of barking greeted them. “I can hear Sid,” Mum said, laughing. “He can always tell we’re coming, Sarah. He gets all excited – it’s lovely. Although I have to say, he’s far more excited when it’s Bella or Tom coming than he is for me!”
    Sarah nodded and she suddenly looked a lot less shy. “I can hear him, too,” she said, laughing. “That squeaky noise! And a sort of scrabbling?”
    Bella giggled. “He’s trying to dig under the front door,” she explained. “He always does it, even though you’d think by now he’d have worked out he never gets anywhere. Hey, Sid!”
    Mum slid the key in the lock, and before they knew it Sid was waltzing delightedly about on the front